Punish guilty soldiers, says CPI-M

New Delhi: The CPI-M Wednesday demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of soldiers who shot dead two innocent schoolboys in Jammu and Kashmir. The latest incident reinforces the need to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives virtual impunity to the military, in the state or at least in civilians areas.

The killings, including of a Class 7 boy, took place in Chattargram in army firing, triggering protests in the Kashmir Valley.

"T he prima facie evidence of the guilt of the personnel concerned demands the immediate arrest and prosecution for murder," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement.

"This is not the first time that such brutality has taken place by the army but in several of such cases justice has been denied and the guilty personnel have been protected.

"The army gets away with killings of innocent civilians, including children, because of the impunity it enjoys under AFSPA.

"The CPI-M has been demanding the repeal of this Act and its draconian clauses. At least in the interim, the AFSPA should be withdrawn from all civilian areas in Kashmir and be functional only in the border areas."